Rust separator for pipe lines



RUST SEPARATOR FOR PIPE LINES Filed Oct. 25, 1937 v 2 Sheets-Sheet l [Ill/872507 L as Zer M 6010 6772 z'Z/z his Ai iorney Jan. 28, 1941. M GOLDSMITH 7 2,229,732

RUST SEPARATOR FOR PIPE LI-NES I Filed Oct. 25, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fzz'sAilorneg/ Patented Jan. 28, 1941 UNITED STTES ATENT OFFICE RUST SEPARATOR roe ems LINES Application October 25, 1937, Serial No. 170,980

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to means for separating foreign bOdies from a flowing stream of liquid, and more particularly for separating entrained solids from liquids such as petroleum and liquid petroleum products.

One of the objects of this invention resides in the provision of means for removing foreign bodies of the nature of rust, grit and scale or the like from petroleum products such as gasoline or kerosene, such bodies having become entrained therein during the transportation of the products through pipe lines and/or during storage in connection therewith.

A further object resides in the provision of means for removing foreign bodies, including rust and scale, from gasoline or kerosene flowing through a pipe line without any substantial interruption of flow through said line, and Without substantial diminution of the pressure maintained thereupon.

A further object resides in the provision of means for removing foreign bodies from gasoline or kerosene While in pipe line transit, whereby abrasion and wear of pumping equipment is substantially reduced or eliminated.

With these and other objects in view, the invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig, 1 is a side elevation of a preferred form of separating apparatus,

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of Fig. 1, taken from the line AA, and

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of Fig. 1, taken from the line BB.

Referring to the figures of the drawings, in which corresponding elements are similarly numbered, I represents a main pipe line which is connected by pipe 2 and valve 3 to an L-shaped inlet pipe 4. The inlet pipe 4 is connected, in turn, to an upper tubular header 5 provided with a plurality of downpipes 6 and 6' joined, respectively, to the lower tubular headers I and l. The lower headers l and I are connected to an inverted discharge manifold 8 provided with pipe 9 and valve I0 connected by outlet pipe H to extension I2 of the main pipe line I. The extension I2 may be connected to a storage vessel or conduit from which the pipe line pumps may take suction. The lower headers I and I are further provided with drain valves I3 and I3, whereby the separator may be emptied of fluid prior to the removal of the lower header flanges for cleaning the headers of accumulated rust, scale and the like. The entire separating device headers 5, 'I and I may be 16 inches in diameter may be by-passed bymeans of valve I4 and pipe I5, joining the main pipe line I and extension I2, when it becomes desirable or necessary to free the separator of accumulated foreign solids which have been separated from the liquid passing 5 therethrough.

In the preferred construction illustrated, the inletpipe 4 is preferably connected to the upper header 5 at a point approximately 2/3 distant from the discharge end of the separator, whereby a more uniform distribution of liquid to the downpipes 6 and 6' may be obtained. The downpipes 6 and 6' are of unrestricted cross-section, and a sufficient number of such pipes is employed that the total cross-sectional area thereof is sub-: stantially greater than the area of either the main pipe line I, inlet pipe 4 or the upper header- 5. By employing a plurality of downpipes having a total cross-sectional area substantially greater than that of the main pipe line, the velocity of' flow through such plurality of downpipes is very greatly reduced, thereby permitting a sedimentation or settling out of foreign solids while the liquid is flowing through the separator. For example, the main pipe line I and inlet pipe 4 may 5 be 8 inches in diameter, the upper and lower and about 37 feet in length, and the downpipes 6 and 6 each 8 inches in diameter and about 6 feet long, and spaced about 19 inches apart, on centers. The discharge manifold 8 may be 12 inches in diameter and outlet pipe II may be 8 inches in diameter.

The introduction of the liquid from the main pipe line into the upper header 5 and the downward flow of such liquid through the downpipes 6 and 6' at reduced velocity permits sedimentation of foreign solids concurrently with the flow of liquid through said downpipes. Such concurrent flow of liquid and entrained solids, at low velocity, assists markedly in rate of sedimentation and removal of such solids. The inverted discharge manifold 8, by means of which the liquid is withdrawn from the lower headers I and 1', causes a change in the direction of flow and assists in preventing sediment from passing from the lower headers into the outlet pipe, with the liquid from which it has been separated.

In the operation of my separating device, employed, for example, in conjunction with a pipe line transporting gasoline, the gasoline containing entrained solids of the nature of rust, scale or the like is passed, under a superatmospheric pressure which may be of the order of from about 100 lbs/sq. in. or less to about 1000 lbs/sq. in., through the main pipe line I, pipe 2, valve 3 and inlet pipe 4 into the upper header 5, valve I4 being closed. The gasoline containing entrained solids is distributed by the header 5 to the plurality of downpipes 6 and 6' of unrestricted crosssection, the total cross-sectional area of which is substantially greater than that of the main pipe line I, and may be in the ratio of, for example, 10 to l or 20 to 1, or higher. Since the velocity of flow is inversely proportional to the total crosssectional area of the downpipes, the higher the aforementioned ratio, the lower will be the velocity of flow therethrough. The marked diminution of velocity in the downpip'es and the decrease in turbulence permits efiicient sedimentation'or settling of the entrained solids from the gasoline, such sedimentation being effected in a direction concurrent with the downfiow of the gasoline. The sediment of rust or scale and the like which separates from the gasoline may accumulate alongthebottom of the lower headers 1 and I, from which it may be removed as occasion demands. The gasoline, substantially free of entrained solids, is passed from the headers I and 1' upwardly through the inverted discharge manifold 8 and, by means of pipe 9, valve I and outlet pipe H is conducted into the extension line I2 which may be connected to a storage tank (not shown) or to the inlet side of the pipe line pumps.

When the accumulation of rust, scale or the like in the lower headers I and 1' becomes sufficiently great as to warrant'its removal, valve 14 is opened and valves 3 and ID are closed, The

" flow of gasoline is thus temporarily diverted from the separating device, and the gasoline is bypassed from the main pipe line I through valve l4 and pipe I into the extension line l2. The separating device may be drained of gasoline by -means of valves [3 and I3, and the blind flanges or closures removed from the ends of the headers 5, 1 and l to facilitate the cleaning thereof. Such blind flanges or closures may be secured by bolts or clamps in a .conventional manner.

While, in the modification of the separating device illustrated in the drawings, I have shown the use of one-upper header and two lower headers, I may also'employ only one upper header and one lower header, or alternatively, a plurality of upper headers and lower headers having one or more inlet pipes and outlet pipes. Furthermore, if desired, the lower header or headers may be inclined at an angle to the horizontal, and preferably in such a manner that the discharge or outlet end of the lower header is more elevated 5 than the opposite end thereof.

My separating device, while primarily designed for the removal of rust, scale, water and the like from petroleum products such as gasoline and kerosene, may likewise be adapted for use in the separation of entrained solids from liquids such as water or aqueous solutions, or other liquids of non-viscous nature.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for effecting separation of en- 15 trained foreign bodies from a flowing stream of liquid comprising a distributing conduit, a collecting conduit disposed at a lower level than said distributing conduit, a. plurality of conduits connecting said distributing conduit with said 001- lecting conduit, the total cross-sectional area of said plurality of conduits being substantially greater than that of said distributing conduit, means for introducing liquid into said distributing conduit at such point that approximately twothirds of said plurality of conduits are in advance of said point in respect to the point of removal of said liquid from said lower level collecting conduit, and means for withdrawing liquid'from said collecting conduit substantially free of entrained foreign bodies.

2. Apparatus for effecting separation of entrained foreign bodies from a flowing stream of liquid comprising a distributing conduit, a collecting conduit disposed at a lower level than said 335 distributing conduit, a plurality of conduits of unrestricted cross section connecting said distributing conduit with said collecting conduit, the total cross-sectional area of said plurality of conduits being substantially greaterthan that of. said distributing conduit, means for introducing liquid into said distributing conduit at such point that approximately two-thirds of said plurality oi conduits are in advance of said point in respect to the point of removal of said liquid from said lower level collecting conduit and means connected at the upper boundary of said collecting conduit for withdrawing liquid therefrom substantially free of entrained foreign bodies.

LESTER M. GOLDSMITH. 

